kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, July 29: West Bengal government employees, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday declared that state government staff will receive their October salaries before the Durga Puja celebrations. In another significant relief measure, he also announced that an additional 20 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) will be implemented from October, providing a substantial financial boost ahead of the state's biggest festival.

The Chief Minister said he has already directed the Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary to ensure that the October salaries of all state government employees are credited to their bank accounts before the commencement of Durga Puja festivities. The move, he said, is aimed at easing the financial burden on employees during the festive season and enabling them to celebrate the occasion without monetary concerns.

Alongside the advance salary payment, Suvendu Adhikari announced that the additional 20 percent Dearness Allowance, as proposed in the state budget, will come into effect from October. The enhanced DA is expected to provide significant financial relief to lakhs of state government employees and pensioners, particularly at a time when inflation and rising household expenses continue to be major concerns.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that a considerable gap still exists between the Dearness Allowance received by Central and West Bengal government employees. According to him, the difference currently stands at around 42 percent. While admitting that such a gap cannot be bridged overnight, he assured employees that his government remains committed to reducing the disparity in a phased and systematic manner. He said the administration is continuously working to ensure that government employees receive the benefits they rightfully deserve.

Suvendu Adhikari revealed that the state government is planning to implement the Seventh Pay Commission during the current financial year. He informed that the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the commission have already been prepared and that the formal process of constituting the commission will begin once the framework receives final approval.

The Chief Minister further stated that the commission is expected to submit its recommendations within the next few months, following which the government intends to move swiftly toward implementation. He described the proposed pay revision as part of the government's broader commitment to improving the service conditions and financial security of state government employees.

Suvendu Adhikari also claimed that police personnel below the rank of the Indian Police Service (IPS) had been deprived of adequate benefits and facilities for several years. He alleged that while many other states had revised the salary structure and service conditions of such personnel, similar reforms had remained pending in West Bengal for a long period. The present government, he asserted, is determined to correct that imbalance and ensure better welfare measures for police officers and staff serving below the IPS rank.

Beyond employee welfare, the Chief Minister also outlined the government's broader economic agenda. He said the administration is placing equal emphasis on creating an investment-friendly environment by strengthening law and order, ensuring the easy availability of land for industries, and introducing employment-oriented incentives to attract new investments into the state. According to him, these initiatives are aimed at accelerating industrial growth, generating employment opportunities, and strengthening West Bengal's overall economic development.

The announcements are expected to provide considerable relief to state government employees ahead of Durga Puja while also signalling the government's intention to undertake broader administrative and economic reforms in the months ahead.